And frank e



(No Model.)

FREDERICK E. 85 FRANK E. SMALL.

VALVE.

No. 348,590. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK E. SMALL, OE REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND FRANK E. SMALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEXV YORK.

VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,590, dated September 7, 1886.

A pplicatinn filed February 17, 1886. vSerial No. 192,198. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK E. SMALL, of Revere, county of Suffolk, and State oi'Massachusetts, and FRANK E. SMALL, of Brook lyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Valves, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings represent-- ing like parts.

Heretofore, so far as our knowledge extends, valves of the class herein referred to, and globe-valves,havc been provided with stufiingboxes or packing, to prevent the escape of steam about the valve-stem. In such forms of valvesthe packing or stuffing by use soon becomes more or less worn and fails to prevent the escape of steam about the stem. The escape of steam is a source of constant annoyance, requiring repairs in the packing at comparatively short intervals of time, or necessitating the replacement of such worn or partially-useless packing or stufiing by new packing. The annoyance and trouble arising from the use of packing or stuffing in valves of this class is more particularly noticeable in large work shops or manufacturing concerns wherein numbers ofsuch valves are required to be used.

The object of this our invention is to overcome these defects by dispensing altogether with packing or stuffing about the stem of the valve. I

In accordance with our invention we have made the valve at the lower end of the stem of a cup shape, and have provided it with a lipwheel, which cooperates with a ground seat, the upper side of the said lip being preferably ground to'form a seat to receive the lower end of a sleeve which is screwed into the fitting or shell and surrounds the valve, the annular lip of the valve working between the ground seat in the fitting or shell and the end of the said sleeve. In a valve constructed as stated the escape of steam next the valvestem is thoroughly provided against, and at the same time a steam-Valve is produced which is effective and complete for the purpose for which it is intended. If desired, an annular space may be provided between the fitting or shell and the portion of the outer periphery of the sleeve which surrounds the cupvalve, the said annular space being adapted to receive the steam that may possibly escape at the joint between the valve-seat and valve proper, and allow for condensation of such steam, or to break the force of its direct pressure before it can escape between the sleeve and valvestem.

Figure 1 represents in central vertical section a valve embodying our invention, the said figure showing the cup-valve as provided with a valve-stem integral therewith, the latter having a handle secured to its upper end; and Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly broken away, showing the valve in modified form, it being provided with key-slots to receive a key on the lower end of the valve-stem.

The steam fitting or shell A, having a bridge, a, of usual construction, is provided with a socket, b, having at its lower end an annular flange, b, encircling the usual central opening for the passage of steam or water from one to the other side of the bridge a. The upper side of the flange b of the socket b is ground to form an annular seat to receive the ground under surface or bottom of the annular lip c, forming part of the cupshaped valve O, thereby providing a steam-tight joint between said valve or its lip and the said annular ground seat. The eup-shaped valve O is provided with a concavity, c, which is divided centrally by the wall 0', the bottom of said wall fitting the top of the bridge a, the two coacting when they are in the same plane to prevent the escape or passage of steam through the fitting or shell A from one to the other side of the bridge a. XVhcn the valve is turned, by the aid of the handle 11, secured to the upper end of the valvcstem 0, so that the wall a of said valve is disposed at right angles, or substantially so, to the bridge a, the valve is then open to allow the passage of steam or water from one side of the bridge a through the concavity of the valve to the other side of said bridge, as will be understood by referring to the drawings. A sleeve, F, surrounding the valve-stem c and valve 0, has a portion of its periphery screwthreaded, as at f, so as to be screwed or fitted into the socket b of the fitting A. The said sleeve serves as a support or bearing for the valve 0 and more or lsss of its stem 6. The sleeve F is extended down and around the valve 0, so as to permit its lower end to fit the ground seat on the upper surface of its lip 0, thus providing a second steam-tight joint, and more thoroughly preventing escape of steam or water from the fitting or shell A through the valve-joints and from about the stem. Thus arranged it will be noted that when the valve is turned the lip cthercof moves between the annular valveseat I) of the socket b and the bottom of the sleeve F. An annular space, 9, is provided between the socket Z; and that portion of the sleeve F which extends below the screwthreaded portion f, the said annular space receiving the steam that may possibly escape at the joint between the annular valve-seat I) and the lip c of the valve 0, such escaping steam disseminating or expending its force throughout said annular space thereby reducing its liability of escaping at the second steam-joint between the ground upper surface of the annularlip c of the valve and the lower end or bottom of the sleeve F.

By the construction shown it will be noted that the sleeve F and valve 0 may readily be removed from the fitting or shell A by unscrewing said sleeve at the jointf; or, on the other hand, it may be screwed into the fitting to bind closely upon the upper surface of the lip e of the valve, and thus cause the lower surface thereof to bind closely upon the annular seat I), thus compensating for wear or providing a more or less tight joint, as may be desired.

In Fig. 2 we have shown the valve-stem e as being detached from the valve, the former having a key, 0', at its lower end to lock into a key-slot, m, in the upper end of the valve, whereby the valve can only be turned when the valve-stem with its attached handle (not shown) is placed in a certain predetermined position. '2y such latter construction it will be noticed that we provide what is known as a lock-up valve, wherein the handle and its attached stem serves as a key which may be used to open or close any one or more of a series of valves, the key being in the custody of some regular attendant or other per son whose duty it is to attend to the opening and closing of the valves, whereas with the construction shown in Fig. 1 any person can open or close the valve by merely turning the handle (I, an objection which in large workshops or other concerns it is advisable to provide against.

his obvious that our improved valve is applicable for use in connection with water or other fluid.

Ve claim 1. The combination,with the fitting or shell A, provided with a bridge, and a socket, I), having at its lower end an opening, and a flanged annular valve-seat, b, of a valve pr0- vided at its under surface with cavities or ports and with a dividing-wall, the said valve having an annular lip to. fit the valve-seat of the said socket, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The fitting or shell provided with a socket, 1), having an opening and an annular flange or valve-seat, I), combined with a sleeve fit ting within the valve-case, and with a valve having an annular lip fitting between the said valve-seat b and the bottom of the said sleeve. as and for the purpose specified.

3. A fitting provided with a screw-thread and a socket, b, having a steam-opening in its bottom and an annular flange or valve-seat, b, as specified,combined with a screw-threaded sleeve fitting into the said socket and shaped to leave an annular space between it and the said socket, the said sleeve being provided with a valve having an annular lip projecting between the said seat I) and the bottom of the depending portion of said sleeve, to provide a double joint, substantiallyas set forth.

4. A fitting or shell provided with a bridge and with a socket, I), having a steam-opening in its bottom, and a flanged valve-seat, b, encircling said opening, as specified, combined with a sleeve fitting into the said socket, and with a valve provided with the steam-cavities and the central wall, as specified, and further provided with the annular lip projecting between the said valve-seat and the bottom of the said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK SMALL. FRANK E. SMALL. \Vitnesses for Frederick E. Small:

Geo. W. GREGORY, (J. M. CONE. \Vitnesses for Frank E. Small:

GEo. H. WARD, R. ELDER. 

